Zern
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Posts posted by Zern
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Biden will do this in his sleep.
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20 minutes ago, Gringo said:
Thatcher reduced the basic rate of tax from 33% to 25% over a period. The marginal top rate of tax when she came in could be as high as 98% for some people and this was reduced to 40%.
They did however increase VAT, albeit modestly.
The country prospered.That might have had something to do with joining the EU.
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On 09/06/2023 at 10:56, Herc said:
There's likely to be a convergence with the EU and all the associated bodies over time without actually rejoining, which would probably require another referendum.
That would make sense. There are only two problems; membership of the CPTPP and the Retained EU Law bill, both of which are being progressed. The EU has a monitoring group that has highlighted those as potential conflicts with the existing TCA/WF.
Labour are promising a 'dynamic alignment'. This appears to be where a 3rd party country, outside the EU, aligns itself closely to enable trade. It has nothing to do with the EU itself though. 3rd party countries outside the EU are free to align how they want. It's something they can do all on their own. Be as dynamic as you want, the TCA allows for that. However, at this point it looks more like what Labour are promising is simply to fulfil the obligation of that are in the TCA/WF itself. All the stuff that the Tories have been delaying, postposing, or outright ignoring.
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On 09/06/2023 at 09:02, Fullerene said:
That is it. The EU are not interesting in discussing the UK going back into the EU if there is a possibility that a subsequent Tory government will just cancel the talks. It will only happen if every likely government is in favour of the idea.
With FPTP, the Tories are always wary of being outflanked by the Nigel Farage Party and will always be more extreme as a result.
Hopefully with PR, the Tories will still be detestable but the worse elements would not have so much influence.
The immediate consequences of ignoring electoral reform is that it makes any other planned reforms harder to make permanent. A future administration down the line can simply sweep away everything that the previous one achieved without ever needing a majority. Everything Brexit is an example.
It's also politically stupid. If The Labour Party were to introduce a policy of both PR and lowering the voting age. It would generate a lot of political goodwill and engagement that would surely guarantee them the largest share of the vote come the following election. It would also have a side benefit (from Labour's perspective) of vacating the SNP numbers in Westminster.
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1 minute ago, AyrExile said:
He should have been humble like Margaret Ferrier and continued to cream the wages until all relevant procedures were exhausted
Johnson's antics makes Ferrier look almost respectable.
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Arrogant p***k resigns from job they were not doing anyway, all over the threat of a suspension.
No actual consequences for Johnson, and awards all around for incompetence and toadying.
Not Dorries though. Not yet anyway.
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38 minutes ago, Salt n Vinegar said:
Both the "big parties" value the chance of absolute power being in their hands, even for a brief period, far more than they value that old 'democracy' BS.
Sadly true. I have no doubt that Labour is already compiling a list of future peers to be elevated. They are up to their elbow in the establishment.
It's very short-sighted of Labour to ignore electoral reform. If the long-term goal is EU membership then it is one of series a necessary steps they need to take to change the Westminster system. They won't allow UK re-entry as is. That ship sailed 50 years ago.
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1 hour ago, CarrbridgeSaintee said:
PR is a no brainier for anyone remotely interested in fair representation.
How do we get it though? It will never suit Labour, the Tories or the SNP up here.
Independence is one route. The MMP system is far more representative than FPTP already, and if there is a plurality of support it can get done. Also depends if there is enough dissatisfaction with the MMP and STV systems currently in use.
For Westminster? Your guess is as good as mine. With the two main parties against, almost impossible.
What's weird is that some form of PR has been in use in various parts of the UK now for decades. It is neither controversial or radical to propose reform of the electoral system to be more representative. I don't get the reluctance.
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If FPTP is the problem, then some form of PR would be the solution.
I can understand a Labour party building and appealing to narrow caucus of Brexit/Tory/LD votes in order to win power. That makes sense.
My problem is that they are not intending on implementing PR or electoral reform once they win power. So the next 2 general elections will be fought on FPTP.
It leaves them beholden to that narrow caucus whom they have to please within 1 term of power, otherwise they won't get the 2nd term.
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From an outside perspective what's happening in England looks like another version of the post-war consensus. Except this time it is a neoliberal consensus. Labour and Conservative now look like two wings of the same party in disagreement over the minutiae of how to implement agreed policy. The Public Order Act is a recent example; token objection in HoC, but passed the HoL with Labour Peers support.
That's the policy Starmer wants to bed in.
I guess the idea of removing people on the basis of trumped up charges appeals to him.
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Things that will get you deselected as a Labour candidate; liking a tweet by the SNP, saying anything good about the SNP, saying anything good about Jeremy Corbyn, being Jeremy Corbyn, being a Mayor in the NE of England who interview Ken Loach about his film set in the NE of England whilst in the NE of England.
Things that won't; being a former Tory MP, being a former Tory councillor.
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Ironically the seat would be a shoo-in if the unionist parties could get out of each other's way and present a unified front.
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I wanna meet the SNP voter who prefers Starmer to Corbyn, probably a total headcase.
Closer Tory alignment is Labour's current trajectory. I doubt that will prove popular. Attracting tories is about all they are good for now.
As the poster above avers, they are a safe pair of hands
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19 minutes ago, RuMoore said:
Stating my political prediction has nothing to do with entitlement just because you so happen to disagree with it and the Limmy reference is a shiter tbh maybe take a little time to think things over.
It's not the prediction i'm objecting too. It's the tired trope that voters who switched from Labour to SNP, over a decade ago, will see the error of their ways and return to the 'home' of Labour. You think Labour are entitled to those votes.
It's bullshit denialism of why the Labour Party lost their majority in Scotland in the first place and ignores the changes to the voting rolls and political landscape since.
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"returning home to Labour" aye, there's that entitlement.
"they've turned the weans against us." has a similar sentinment.
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Pope's off to hospital. Not to church. Because he wants results not thoughts and prayers.
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I'm not convinced either. The idea that there are people who voted SNP in 2019, whilst Labour where under Corbyn, that would flock to Starmer's party is tenuous. If anything Labour support from their base may fall and it will be Tory tactical votes that will be doing most of the heavy lifting. That's who Starmer appears intent on appealing to with current policies.
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1 hour ago, Trogdor said:
The issue for the SNP will be getting the vote out in this one.
I don't subscribe to the SNP to Labour swing. I expect there will be a swing from the Tories to Labour reflecting the general mood.
However, I think the SNP vote share will drop because folk won't vote, to give them a bit of a bloody nose given the shambles since the turn of the year.
Same, the idea that people who voted SNP will switch to Labour is very overplayed. They lost those voters for a reason. Starmer's tory-lite won't win them back.
I don't underestimate Labour's ability to f**k things up; imposition of a candidate that ignores local members wishes would be just the sort of thing to vacate their chances.
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I dunno, my reaction would be delighted that my kid likes reading to ask to go to one of these sort of things.
Not so sure why Ross thinks it is objectionable.
Lossie Mouth looks fantastic, and very appropriately dressed for Pride.
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Slim majority, plenty of votes available to flip to Labour should Rutherglen feel that way inclined.
Rutherglen and Hamilton West (Constituency) 2019 results - General election results - UK Parliament
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I'd somehow forgotten he used to be a Lib Dem, doesn't reflect well on them at all.
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16 minutes ago, TheScarf said:
I'm struggling to think of one off the top of my head. He should be in the BNP with his views. A horrible c**t.
"if you were Prime Minister for a day, without repercussions, what would you do?"
Such a softball question, it's an opportunity to put some policy forward that can appeal to the electorate.
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Just now, Johnny Martin said:
Day Of The Lords/Benjamin Nevis found.
Sounded more like Duries Air Freshener.
Just out of interest, what is this 'Northern Powerhouse' they are talking about? It appears to be a series promises to invest and build in the North that never materialised.
Ironically enough if Scotland were to become independent and join the EU then the trade border being established would force rUK to actually invest in infrastructure in the North. It would be be good for both sides. or that area.
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7 hours ago, DiscoStu said:
That's seriously flawed logic.
Would you also apply it to rallies in which trans activists hold signs, without protest, calling for the death of and decapitation of 'TERFs'?
Still trying to purr up some outrage over that huh?
There's a reason no-one is batting an eyelid at those banners.
It's because Gargamel won his court case.
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Oor Nicola Sturgeon thread.
in The Politics Forum
Posted
Isn't that the intention?
The lady in question, 52, was interviewed by arrangement under caution for questioning. Same as the other two.
Like the other two, she was released without charge.
Makes for an arresting headline though.